Endplate for hot isostatic pressing canister, hot isostatic pressing canister, and hot isostatic pressing method

Abstract

An endplate for a hot isostatic pressing canister comprises a central region, and a main region extending radially from the central region and terminating in a corner about a periphery of the endplate. The thickness of the endplate increases along the main region, from the central region to the corner, defining a taper angle. The corner includes an inner surface comprising a radiused portion by which the main region smoothly transitions into the lip. A hot isostatic pressing canister including at least one of the endplates also is disclosed, along with a method of hot isostatic pressing a metallurgical powder using the hot isostatic canister.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An endplate of a hot isostatic pressing canister, the endplate comprising:
 a central region; and 
 a main region extending radially from the central region and terminating in a corner about a periphery of the endplate, the corner including a peripheral lip configured to mate with a body portion of a hot isostatic pressing canister; and 
 a substantially planar outer face; 
 wherein a thickness of the endplate increases from the central region to the corner and defines a taper angle; and 
 wherein an inner surface of the corner includes a radiused portion by which the main region smoothly transitions into the peripheral lip. 
 
     
     
       2. The endplate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inner face, wherein the taper angle is defined by an increasing distance between the outer face and the inner face in the main region as a distance from the central region increases. 
 
     
     
       3. The endplate of  claim 2 , wherein the peripheral lip comprises a chamfer configured to accept a weld bead for welding the endplate to a body portion of a hot isostatic pressing canister. 
     
     
       4. The endplate of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one fill stem, wherein the at least one fill stem is configured to enable fluid communication with an interior volume of a hot isostatic pressing canister when the endplate is secured to a body portion of the hot isostatic pressing canister. 
     
     
       5. The endplate of  claim 4 , wherein the endplate includes only a single fill stem. 
     
     
       6. The endplate of  claim 2 , wherein the endplate comprises at least one of a low carbon steel, a mild steel, and a stainless steel. 
     
     
       7. The endplate of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the endplate comprises an electropolished finish. 
     
     
       8. The endplate of  claim 2 , wherein the endplate is configured to be secured to a cylindrical body portion of a hot isostatic pressing canister. 
     
     
       9. A canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material, the canister comprising:
 a cylindrical body portion including a circular first end and a circular second end; 
 a first endplate welded to the circular first end of the cylindrical body portion, the first endplate comprising:
 a central region, and 
 a main region extending radially from the central region and terminating in a corner about a periphery of the endplate, the corner including a peripheral lip configured to mate with the body portion, and 
 a substantially planar outer face; 
 wherein a thickness of the endplate increases from the central region to the corner and defines a taper angle, and 
 wherein an inner surface of the corner includes a radiused portion by which the main region smoothly transitions into the peripheral lip; and 
 
 a second endplate welded to the circular second end of the cylindrical body portion. 
 
     
     
       10. The canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material of  claim 9 , wherein the first endplate further comprises:
 an inner face, wherein the taper angle is defined by an increasing distance between the outer face and the inner face in the main region as a distance from the central region increases. 
 
     
     
       11. The canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material of  claim 9 , wherein the peripheral lip of the first endplate further comprises a chamfer configured to accept a weld bead for welding the first endplate to the circular first end of the cylindrical body portion of the canister. 
     
     
       12. The canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material of  claim 9 , wherein the first endplate further comprises at least one fill stem, wherein the at least one fill stem is configured to enable fluid communication with an interior volume of the canister when the first endplate is welded to the circular first end of the cylindrical body portion of the canister. 
     
     
       13. The canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material of  claim 12 , wherein the first endplate includes only a single fill stem. 
     
     
       14. The canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material of  claim 9 , wherein the first endplate comprises at least one of a low carbon steel, mild steel, and a stainless steel. 
     
     
       15. The canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the first endplate comprises an electropolished finish. 
     
     
       16. The canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material of  claim 9 , wherein the second endplate comprises:
 a central region; and 
 a main region extending radially from the central region and terminating in a corner about a periphery of the endplate, the corner including a peripheral lip configured to mate with a body portion of the canister; and 
 a substantially planar outer face; 
 wherein a thickness of the endplate increases from the central region to the corner and defines a taper angle; and 
 wherein an inner surface of the corner includes a radiused portion by which the main region smoothly transitions into the peripheral lip. 
 
     
     
       17. The canister for hot isostatic pressing a powdered material of  claim 16 , wherein the second endplate further comprises:
 an inner face, wherein the taper angle is defined by an increasing distance between the outer face and the inner face in the main region as a distance from the central region increases.